[Request] Defend Squadmates (to help AI feel less ignored)

[user1679]

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Suggestion:

Add a "Defend squadmates out of combat" option to each squad (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, etc.) in the form of an option button on the Commander's loadout page.


Detail:

Currently the AI does fairly well at responding to attackers in the vicinity when already in combat. New attackers will typically be picked up by squadmates within visibility. Where it falls short is when out of combat, particularly during travel. Case in point, my fleet - Commander, Alpha (3), Beta (3), Gamma (4) were flying through a sector that had a XEN defense station at the exit gate. The station was engaged with a fleet of TEL ships so my Commander and Alpha slipped by. Beta was noticed by some XEN fighters but went through the gate before they could close the distance.

Here's where the problem came in, and where this defend squadmates would be useful. Gamma included a very slow M ship, one S Heavy Fighter and two S Interceptors. The heavy fighter and interceptors took a couple hits but made it through the gate with about 20% shields. The M ship on the other hand was lost.

Part of the problem is the AI doesn't really utilize boost very well, and the game doesn't allow travel drive when taking damage. When the M ship took damage it was about 30 Km away from the gate but only had a cruising speed of about 280 m/s. After a while, the XEN had 12 fighters swarming my M ship and cut her down fast. At no time did anyone from her squad come to assist.

In general, the AI seems a bit lacking in defense. I have the global order to attack when attacked yet none of my ships engaged the XEN who attacked them because they were following a Commander set to "fly and wait." I understand I could have set those Gamma fighters as a subordinate of the M ship but the game also doesn't handle nested fleets well, leading often to them not moving at all.


Summary:

Having an option to "protect squadmates out of combat" (separate for each squad) would help to minimize losses for ships that fall behind during travel. It would provide a mechanism for squadmates to temporarily receive an "attack" order from another squadmate if their current objective is travel or non-combat.


NOTE: I watched this on the map

[A5PECT]

I'd like the defend role expanded into: Defend Leader, Defend Group, and Defend Fleet.

Defend Leader should work as the Defend role does now.

Defend Group expands it to respond to attacks on any members of the ship's group in addition to the leader.

Defend Fleet expands further to respond to all attacks on any members of the ship's fleet.

[Raptor34]

I'd like the defend role expanded into: Defend Leader, Defend Group, and Defend Fleet.

Defend Leader should work as the Defend role does now.

Defend Group expands it to respond to attacks on any members of the ship's group in addition to the leader.

Defend Fleet expands further to respond to all attacks on any members of the ship's fleet.

That's actually how defend works now. But it seems to have a leash radius similar to intercept/bombard.